Bright Sword: Conquer the monk at the beginning and take down Zhou Weiguo

Suddenly, a faint light flickered at the edge of the distant forest before swiftly vanishing. Qin Cang's heart tightened, and he crouched low, his gaze sharp as a hawk. It was a signal from his teammates—enemy movement. Qin Cang held his breath, waiting silently. He fumbled for the dagger at his waist, feeling the rough, cold blade against his palm, yet his heart remained calm. He knew that every next step could determine the outcome of this battle.

"Captain, we've spotted an enemy patrol, about two squads strong, less than 300 meters away." A figure approached silently in the darkness. It was Zhang Yuan, his most capable deputy. His voice was deep and anxious.

Qin Cang nodded slightly, signaling him to remain calm. He took a deep breath and listened carefully to the sounds around him. The enemy patrol was getting closer, the sound of their footsteps particularly clear in the quiet night. He lowered his voice and said, "Notify the brothers to prepare for an ambush. Wait until they get close before attacking. Don't waste any bullets."

Zhang Yuan nodded in agreement and quickly disappeared into the darkness. Qin Cang watched him leave, feeling an inexplicable heaviness in his heart. The battles of the past few days had exhausted the brothers, but this batch of supplies was of great importance, and they could not relax even a little.

The patrol's footsteps drew closer. Qin Cang crouched on the ground, feeling the coolness of the earth. He gripped the Mauser pistol, his palms drenched in sweat. Countless images flashed through his mind—the images of his brothers fighting in bloody battles, the aged face of his mother back home, and his wife's choked words of advice as she left. "Brother Cang, come back alive!" That soft voice seemed to still ring in his ears, yet it felt like countless long days and nights had passed.

"Hiss—" A soft snapping of branches shattered the stillness of the night, and Qin Cang's pupils shrank. He quickly raised his hand, and almost instantly, a burst of intense gunfire erupted from the dense forest. The guerrillas, lying in ambush, leaped out of the darkness like tigers unleashed from their cages. Gunfire, shouts, and screams suddenly filled the air.

Qin Cang's eyes flashed coldly, and he raised his hand and pulled the trigger, firing three shots in quick succession, accurately hitting the enemy's firing point. His movements were as swift as the wind, and he rolled to the other side almost at the same time as he fired, avoiding the enemy's counterattack. He was calm, almost cold, with only one goal in mind: kill the enemy and save his own life.

"Captain Qin! Enemy reinforcements are arriving!" Zhang Yuan rushed over, panting heavily, his face covered in dirt and blood. His voice was filled with anxiety, "We should retreat!"

"No!" Qin Cang shook his head decisively. "The enemy's supply trucks haven't arrived yet. We can't return empty-handed! Tell the brothers to hold on for another five minutes!"

His words were firm and powerful, like an invisible force that lifted the spirits of the team members around him. Qin Cang knew that this team's strength had never been based on weapons and equipment, but on their determination to face life and death head-on. Although the brothers were exhausted, they still gritted their teeth and fought to the death under his encouragement.

Time flew by amidst the hail of gunfire, and as enemy reinforcements arrived in ever-increasing numbers, the situation grew increasingly critical. Qin Cang's heart ached, yet he refused to issue the order to retreat. He knew that if he missed this opportunity, the guerrillas' future would only become more difficult. The battle was brutal, but he had to take the gamble for the survival of more people.

Suddenly, a roar came from the distance. It was the sound of the engines of the supply convoy! Qin Cang's eyes suddenly flashed with joy. He quickly raised his gun and fired fiercely at the enemy's firepower point, shouting, "Brothers, go! Grab the supplies!"

Led by Qin Cang, the guerrillas charged at the supply convoy like tigers. Bullets flew, swords flashed, and Qin Cang felt a stream of hot blood splashing on his face. His heart was beating violently, and all he could hear was his own breathing intertwined with the sound of gunfire.

At that moment, a shell blasted into a nearby mound, the explosion shaking the very earth. Qin Cang felt his vision go black, his ears buzz, and the entire world seemed to have plunged into chaos. But he couldn't fall—he still had a mission to fulfill. He gritted his teeth, climbed from the ground, and, clutching the revolver, continued to charge forward.

"Captain Qin! Retreat quickly!" Zhang Yuan's voice came from behind, full of anxiety.

Qin Cang glanced back, his eyes flashing like lightning: "No, we must not retreat! Bring back the supplies, only then will the brothers' sacrifice be meaningful!"

This life-or-death struggle was far from over. He had to sacrifice his life to win this battle. Qin Cang's heart was unwavering. Even if there was a hail of bullets ahead, or even if there was a bottomless abyss beneath his feet, he would step forward without hesitation.

The night remained dark, the wind roared, and Qin Cang's iron-like figure stood tall and straight amidst the flames of war. His eyes burned with unquenchable faith and hope.

Dusk deepened, the setting sun a blood-red. The western sky was stained crimson, and the entire village was shrouded in an oppressive silence. Qin Cang stood on the hillside, gazing at the nearby village. Smoke curled in the air, and beneath the blue-tiled earthen walls, the people busily carried firewood and food. Ever since the Japanese pirates repeatedly invaded this area, this once peaceful village had been devastated. Qin Cang vowed to protect the lives and homes of the people here, no matter what.

He slowly raised his hand and touched the long sword at his waist. The scabbard had been polished to a smooth jade-like finish, as if telling the story of countless life-and-death struggles. A cold glint flashed in his eyes, like a blaze ignited in the night. He knew that the villagers' hoes and sticks alone could not withstand the pirates' steel swords and muskets. Only by organizing these scattered civilians could they form a real resistance force.

"Brother Qin, we have all the food and herbs ready." A lean young man hurried over. He was Wang Dashan, a hunter in the village. He made his living by hunting. Now, under Qin Cang's call, he became a member of the anti-Japanese team.

"Well, thank you for your hard work, everyone." Qin Cang patted Wang Dashan's shoulder, his tone full of praise. However, his brows did not relax, and he was still thinking about the next defense plan. "Send a few more brothers to scout down the mountain tonight. The Japanese pirates should be making moves in the next few days, so we must be prepared."

Wang Dashan nodded, a hint of hesitation flashing in his eyes: "Brother Qin... these Japanese pirates are coming fiercely, can we stop them?"

"Yes." Qin Cang's voice was soft, but firm. "As long as we all work together, we can definitely defend the village. You have to remember, we have nowhere to retreat, our families are here."

Wang Dashan's heart trembled at these words, and his eyes reddened slightly. He gritted his teeth and nodded vigorously, "Brother Qin, you're right! For the sake of my family, even if it means risking my life, I will never retreat!"

Gazing at Wang Dashan's resolute back, Qin Cang couldn't help but feel a surge of inexplicable passion in his heart. He knew the situation was dire, everyone was struggling on the brink of life and death. But it was this trust and determination in this critical moment that gave him the courage to lead this group of inexperienced civilians to fight the Japanese pirates to the end.

It was late at night, but the village was brightly lit, and the villagers gathered in a simple venue. Qin Cang stood on a high ground, looking down at the hundreds of people gathered below. Their eyes were filled with fear, fatigue, and a faint glimmer of hope. Qin Cang took a deep breath and said in a deep voice: "My fellow villagers, I have gathered you here today because I, Qin Cang, do not want to see our homeland ravaged by Japanese pirates again! We are not weak lambs. As long as we all work together, there is no enemy we cannot defeat!"

Murmurs and murmurs rose from the crowd, evidently apprehensive of the impending battle. Qin Cang observed this, but offered no rebuke. He knew these civilians weren't born warriors, and fear was natural in the face of the brutal Japanese pirates. He had to ignite their fighting spirit with his actions and determination.

He pulled out a long sword from his bosom and held it high. "This sword has helped me kill countless enemies. Today, I am willing to give it to my bravest brother! Who is willing to charge into battle with me?"

In the silence, a sturdy man stood up. It was Li San, the village blacksmith. He said in a rough voice, "Brother Qin, I do! These beasts have destroyed my family. I've already given up my life!"

"Alright!" Qin Cang handed the long sword to Li San and patted him on the shoulder. "Brother Li, your courage today is the strongest shield of our village!"

These words ignited the fire in the people's hearts, and gradually, more villagers stood up. Qin Cang looked at their eyes, which were gradually burning with fighting spirit, and finally felt a little relieved. Although they were just ordinary farmers and hunters, he believed that as long as they had determination, they could forge an unyielding force.

The next morning, Qin Cang led his troops in a training exercise in the open space at the village entrance. Despite the crude conditions, he did his best to teach them basic combat techniques. The villagers were armed with spears and bamboo spears, and some even used hoes instead, looking particularly naive and ridiculous. But Qin Cang didn't laugh. He understood that all this was a hope for survival.

"Be careful, be steady when you stab, don't rush." ​​Qin Cang walked up to a young man and patiently corrected his movements. "Remember, it's not about strength, but about accuracy."

The young man's name was Zhang Xiaowu, a recent adult. Having lost his parents at a young age, he had been cared for by the villagers. Normally, he wasn't very courageous, but now, he practiced desperately, his eyes revealing an unyielding spirit. Qin Cang watched him, sighing inwardly, "These children haven't even experienced the joys of life, yet they've already been forced onto the battlefield. If the world were peaceful, who would be willing to take up arms?"